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    You are here: Home / Cooking Times / a) 30 mins or less / Smashed Cucumber Salad

    Smashed Cucumber Salad

    18 February 2015 - By Michelle Minnaar
    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe

    The Western world’s version of Chinese food tend to be on the heavy side. Start with something light, fresh and authentic.

    Pai huang gua

    Chinese New Year is upon us. How are you planning on celebrating it? If you’re on a tight budget or the thought of eating an unhealthy load of MSG puts you off, then it’s probably better to steer clear from Chinese restaurants and takeaway. That leaves concocting something yourself at home and I must admit that even I sometimes feel a bit intimidated by the thought of preparing a Chinese meal. This is where you’ll often find me red-handed with ready-made stir-fry sauces such as Sweet and Sour and Chow Mein from Amoy. It simply makes life so much easier!

    Chinese starter and main course

    Pai huang gua is super easy and quick to prepare. What I especially like about it is its low calorie content and that it will complement just about any dish. During the week, I sometimes eat this salad with baked new potatoes and if you’re on a diet, this is a dream meal. Vegans can rejoice too. Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

    拍黄瓜

    Cook Chinese Food at Home

    If you simply love Chinese food and would like to enjoy more of it at home instead of breaking the bank by constantly having takeaways, check out these fabulous cookbooks.

    • Gok Cooks Chinese
    • Ching’s Fast Food
    • Chinese Food Made Easy
    • Every Grain of Rice: Simple Chinese Home Cooking
    • Gok’s Wok
    Print
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    Smashed Cucumber Salad


    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 English cucumbers
    • 1 red chili, finely sliced [optional]
    • 1 bunch spring onions, finely sliced [optional]
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) rice vinegar
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) light soy sauce
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) sesame oil
    • 5ml (1 tsp) caster sugar
    • 2.5ml (1/2 tsp) salt

    Instructions

    1. Smash the cucumbers with a rolling pin on a chopping board. After their insides split open, cut into bite-sized pieces and place in a bowl.
    2. Add the chili and onions to the cucumber and mix.
    3. Place the garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, oil, sugar and salt and in a small bowl and stir until everything is more or less incorporated.
    4. Pour the sauce onto the cucumber mixture and stir well.
    5. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • If you find that you have plenty of cucumber leftover that can’t go in the salad, don’t throw it away! Use it in some other recipes before it goes off e.g. a healthy cucumber ribbon salad for lunch or check out my guide on freezing cucumber if you don’t plan to use it soon.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Category: Side Dish
    • Method: No Cook
    • Cuisine: Chinese

    Nutrition

    • Calories: 56
    • Sugar: Sugars
    • Sodium: 433 mg
    • Fat: 1.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 9.7 g
    • Fiber: Dietary Fiber
    • Protein: 2.1 g

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Meeta

      February 19, 2015 at 7:29 pm

      I am totally on the same level — love these flavors! Light and fresh !

      Reply
    2. Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla

      February 19, 2015 at 9:59 pm

      I like the idea of smashing cucumbers 🙂 Sounds delicious.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla

      February 19, 2015 at 9:59 pm

      I like the idea of smashing cucumbers 🙂 Sounds delicious.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Elizabeth

      February 20, 2015 at 10:17 am

      A gorgeous, beautifully photographed recipe – my goodness I want to jump right in and start eating!

      Reply
    5. Elizabeth

      February 20, 2015 at 10:17 am

      A gorgeous, beautifully photographed recipe – my goodness I want to jump right in and start eating!

      Reply
    6. Jan Bennett

      February 20, 2015 at 11:59 am

      I’m hungry now – stunning photos!

      Reply
    7. Jen

      February 22, 2015 at 7:46 pm

      I’ve not come across smashed cucumbers before, looks like they make a great refreshing base for a salad though.

      Reply
    8. Jen

      February 22, 2015 at 7:46 pm

      I’ve not come across smashed cucumbers before, looks like they make a great refreshing base for a salad though.

      Reply
    9. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours

      February 22, 2015 at 8:58 pm

      This looks so refreshing Michelle, perfect for when on has over indulged at this time of year.

      Reply
    10. Jeanne Horak-Druiff

      February 23, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Now there’s an idea – smashing cucumbers! What a great frustration release ;o) Love the fresh and light flavours of this salad – we had something similar (although sliced rather than smashed) in Singapore at an amazing dim sum restaurant – definitely need to try this at home!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Corina

      February 24, 2015 at 7:56 am

      I’ve never smashed cucumbers before but it’s something I’d love to try – especially after a stressful day! The salad looks really tasty and I love all the flavours in it.

      Reply
    12. Laura@howtocookgoodfood

      February 25, 2015 at 7:22 pm

      This is a perfect side dish to enjoy with Chinese food, really refreshing contrasting to the richness of other dishes. We all love cucumber salad here, but yours is on another level. Stunning pictures too 🙂

      Reply
    13. Laura@howtocookgoodfood

      February 25, 2015 at 7:22 pm

      This is a perfect side dish to enjoy with Chinese food, really refreshing contrasting to the richness of other dishes. We all love cucumber salad here, but yours is on another level. Stunning pictures too 🙂

      Reply
    14. Laura@howtocookgoodfood

      February 25, 2015 at 7:22 pm

      This is a perfect side dish to enjoy with Chinese food, really refreshing contrasting to the richness of other dishes. We all love cucumber salad here, but yours is on another level. Stunning pictures too 🙂

      Reply
    15. All That I'm Eating

      February 27, 2015 at 11:48 am

      Love salads like this, so vibrant and really refreshing.

      Reply
    16. Emily Leary

      March 04, 2015 at 11:05 am

      This looks satisfying and refreshing – lovely!

      Reply
    17. Barbara

      December 17, 2016 at 7:26 pm

      Hi. If one was to be ‘making & taking’ this interesting salad to a function, would the ‘abused cucumber’ ? Keep fresh-looking OK, or go a bit sad & flat !
      Thanks

      Reply
    18. Renil M. George

      September 24, 2017 at 4:49 pm

      Colorful and refreshing dish,

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    19. Ella Grundle

      August 23, 2019 at 11:44 am

      Thanks for the recipe! I have so many cucumbers in my fridge righht now!

      Reply
    20. David Gai

      September 09, 2019 at 3:04 am

      Thank goodness that I’ve got a vegetable slicer 🙂

      Reply
    21. Walter Unlon

      September 29, 2019 at 3:27 am

      I used fresh cucumbers from my garden. It was excellent. Yum yum yum

      Reply

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